DRAMATIC DINING DECOR - IDEAS FOR THE WALLS

Dining room with built in shelves with the back painted a high gloss red! (above)

The holidays are all about family, friends, giving, loving and dining.  I am cooking dinner for lots of family members on Christmas Eve.  Am doing all of the cooking at sis DS's house.  Need to start planning my menu.  Want to add some drama into the table setting and meal this time around.

Anyhooo...all of this planning got me thinking about dining room decor of course.  Sis DS's dining room looks out onto her small courtyard with ivy covered walls...dramatic view greenery.  Maybe I'll add a sparkle light or two outside this year...so guests can enjoy a backdrop of white lights.  Hmmm...need to find someone to put those up.

It is very cool when a dining room has dramatic walls I think - a backdrop of sorts to make the room look special.  Built in bookshelves, paneling, a mural, glossy paint, large pictures framed to create a bold floor to ceiling gallery wall.  Just some ideas.

Here are three very different dining rooms...all with their own dramatic walls.

A wall mural of a river makes a dramatic statement gives this dining room a modern Chinoiserie feel. (above)

A take on wood paneled walls using reclaimed wood beams is definitely high drama (above)

Do you have dramatic walls in your dining room?  Which of these three rooms is your favorite.

Holiday Quick Tips for Dramatic Dining Room Walls:

1. Pick up a more than abnormal number of large ready made framed prints that are all the same (saw some cute ones in West Elm's shop...fyi) and cover an entire wall from floor to ceiling with them.  By covering a feature wall from top to bottom (literally 2 inches above baseboards) with the same print or photo over and over again, you are making a dramatic wall statement.

2.  In time for New Year's Eve dinner...take your favorite photo and have it made it a large scale vinyl wall mural.  I searched the web and saw several companies that would deliver in 7 business days.  A personal made super huge on one wall will do the trick.  Was at a very high end designer's house this fall..she did just that in her dining room with a photo of her sons.

Happy Tuesday!

xo
Coco

Photos: SR Gambrel; Muriel Brandolini; Suzanne Kasler

LIBRARY LOOKS - THIS OR THAT

Option #1 - Abstract modern built in book shelf (above)

Where oh where to put your books...oh where or where could that be?  Do any of these home library looks appeal to you?  All are different but all of these built in bookshelves provide nicely designed storage for precious reading materials.

Option #2 - Going with the architectural flow - built in bookshelf wall surrounding a double interior doorway. (above)

Option #3 - Classic library with cut out for art! (above)

I like Option #3 the best - more traditional but with a modern feel. Which of the three do you prefer?

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S. Remember to follow me on COCOCOZY Instagram.  I am @COCOCOZY.  Keep up with design, decor and more with me!

P.P.S.  Still on vacation with TE!  It is delightful.  It is our last day in paradise.  Have fully enjoyed.  Off to the pool.  Here's a snap from yesterday's sunset!

A tree, the bay, green grass and a sunset in Princeville, Kauai - dream vacation (above)

Photos: Arkpad

APPEALING APARTMENT DESIGN!

LOVE this apartment...the collection of furniture, the modern sensibility and the overall hue!  Fantastic.  Nubby gray Bo Concept rug and sofa from there too. Custom modern white coffee table on casters (wheels).  These standard pieces are all complimented by an array of midcentury modern looking arm chairs and a classic black Thonet bentwood chair.  Of course, you know me, I love the white wood floors.

Look is achieved with a very neutral base (if you take away all of the accessories) all in black white and grays and then textures and patterns are layered in the form of art, pillows, lighting, lamps and other items.

The built in book shelf that divides the kitchen from the living space is fantastic...a functional dividing wall.

What do you think of this apartment?  Like or dislike?  Does it need more color or are you fine with the black, white, silver and a bit of brown?

Happy Wednesday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Been having nice meetings lately with fab Hollywood agent HM.  He's been introducing me around to his colleagues.   He's nice.

P.P.S.  Have been doing a Vegan before 6pm diet (there is some new book out that says be a vegan by day and then a carnivore by night...am always game for trying something new).  Am a total airhead though.  I pranced out of my office at lunch time the other day singing, "I am Vegan before 6. Vegan before 6.  Vegan before 6".  Everyone just looked at me as if I was kooky.  I walked across the way with a person in my office, I ordered lunch and came back and started eating it.  After I had taken several bites, a person in my office who was also eating the same lunch selection said, "Just thought of something...that turkey chili is not vegan".  Duh.  I do have quite a few airhead moments.  Uhh...what about ordering "turkey chili" would ever make me think "vegan"?  Tomorrow is another day!


Photos: Elle Interior

READER SUBMISSION: MM NEEDS YOUR HELP WITH HER SHELVES!

Have a reader's design dilemma that I want you to help solve.

Just a few weeks ago, I got an email from reader Melissa Malleck (MM).  MM and her hubby completed the build of their custom home in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.  They've been living there about 2 years and love it but MM has a decorating issue she still hasn't resolved.

Below are a few photos of MM's new great room...

Here's MM's decorating stumbling block.  Flanking the fireplace in her great room (living room) are two built in cabinets in dark wood.  MM knows that she wants to style these cabinets right but needs ideas.

Here's an excerpt from MM's email to me from a few weeks ago:

"I have these large built-in cabinets in my home (the ceiling is 11ft and the cabinets are 9' high by 4-5ft wide - each is about 14" high). I just don't know what kind of accessories to put on them... Is less more? Should i use larger pieces, but less of them? Or fill the shelves? Only light-coloured pieces against the dark wood?"

So I ask you dear readers to take a look at MM's living room shelves and please give her some ideas!

MELISSA MALLECK'S (MM) GREAT ROOM

The almost empty shelves in the great room in COCOCOZY reader  Melissa Malleck's (MM) Ontario, Canada home (above and below)

INSPIRATION

Built in shelves are painted white to blend with the adjacent fireplace.  Shelves are filled with books stacked in vertically and horizontally. (above)

The back of this shelf is painted a contrasting avocado green...shelves feature books, framed art, and small decorative items. (above)

Large pieces of matching blue and white pottery and important black framed mirror make a huge statement on this designer built in book shelf. (above)

Shelves in these two cases are filled with books, decorative accessories, keepsakes and also small  bars. (above and below)

What design ideas can you share with MM so she can style her built in bookshelves? Any decor tips you can give her? Please comment below!

Thank you MM (Melissa) for sharing your design dilemma with me and COCOCOZY readers.  Hopefully everyone comments and this helps you and a few others!

Happy Friday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  So excited...today I am getting my first samples for a new line in the COCOCOZY collection I am working on in conjunction with a new partner.  This new COCOCOZY offering will debut in January 2013!  I have to review the samples and give notes right away so we can begin production.  I am so excited.  I can't take it!  Still waiting for the package to come in!


Photos: Jarlath Mellett; Elle Decor; M Design; Anthony Cochran Design; Architectural Digest; Melanie Acevedo; House Beautiful

SEE THIS HOUSE: AN $8 MILLION DOLLAR SUBURBAN PARIS APARTMENT WITH A VIEW!

I wouldn't mind coming home to a view of the Eiffel Tower every day.  Would you?

In today's SEE THIS HOUSE, I bring you a 3,000 square foot, 4 bedroom, 4 bath pied-a-terre in the Paris suburb of Neuilly sur Seine - an enclave technically considered outside of Paris but that is often lumped in with the chic 16th arrondissement area of the city.  High ceilings, parquet floors, lots of windows and light, this apartment offers views of the Bois du Boulougne gardens and more importantly the Eiffel Tower.

The home is listed for sale by Sotheby's International for about $8.25 million dollars.

Now, not to be too picky as beggars cannot be choosers but I would probably prefer an apartment directly in the middle of Paris...but if someone (and I don't know who that someone might be) offered me this nice little abode, I would take it...I would make do with the hardship of living in the burbs of Paris.

My favorite room is this dining area with parquet floors, built in book shelves, a fireplace and high ceilings.  Would need a bit more furniture because the Saarinen tulip table shown is a little off in scale but that could easily be fixed! (above)

More high ceilings and tall windows in the master bedroom.  Also love the paneled walls...very elegant in my view. (above)

The view of the Eiffel Tower from the apartment window! (above)

So, what do you think of this international home?  Would you take it or leave it?  What might you change, what might you keep?

Happy Monday!

xo
Coco

P.S.  Got some cute pictures last week from Kathy...owner of Soiree San Francisco -  a cute gift, paper and stationery store in San Fran.  Kathy carries COCOCOZY Lavender Sachets in her darling little shop.

COCOCOZY Lavender Sachets on display inside Soiree San Francisco! (above)

P.P.S. Had a great weekend. Among other things, had very lovely drinks at the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel on Saturday and also had Sunday supper at Dominick's last night with some friends. Saw some family and some friend and overall had a nice relaxing weekend. Got no work done so now I am behind. Uh oh...yikes.

P.P.P.S. Did I mention that I went completely vegetarian for about 10 days? It was kind of interesting. I thought I would be starving but I wasn't. I ate only raw fruit and vegetables and nuts. I know it sounds crazy...and I don't know why I decided to do that. I don't think it is for me...but it was an interesting experiment. Have any of you changed your eating habits like that? What do you think? I'd be curious to hear.

P.P.P.P.S. Have a great Monday. Must find cute outfit to wear to work today. I think my boss is flying in from NYC. So must look decent. :-)

P.P.P.P.P.S. Parties - This week, I have 5 million design events to go to after work each day...I think it is some sort of design week here in Los Angeles. I'm always so out of the loop whenever there is some sort of organized design gathering.  This time though I've received so many invites that I have to assume it is a design week.  So, I'll start off tomorrow night with a party at Harbinger where they are having some sort of anniversary celebration. CM, who runs operations at COCOCOZY, dropped off some of our Quatrefoil drapes to the Harbinger folks for one of their displays...I hope they end up using them! If you don't know Harbinger, you should...it is one of the most prestigious fabric and furniture showrooms (to the trade) in the country.   Harbinger is owned by fabulous designers Joe Lucas and Paris Chilcoat.  I am so honored that they carry the COCOCOZY textiles collection at Harbinger - they are my only showroom in the country that sells COCOCOZY fabric by the yard to the trade.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S.  Tah tah!  Have a great day.  Happy beginning of October!